1 

 68 iYofea ou Me Z?/d o/ Arago. 



of a distinguished future, to be connected with a grea.t work. 

 He was appointed to go to Spain with M. Biot to complete 

 the trigonometrical survey, a work which has given us a very 

 precise measurement of our globe. His great capacity, and 

 the ardent feeling with which he devoted himself to this 

 beautiful undertaking, procured for him, on his return, the re- 

 ception into the Academy. He was then scarcely twenty -three 

 years old. In his youth he gained much affection ; and the 

 Society which so early bestowed upon him its sympathies, 

 soon perceived with pride that he justified them all. This is 

 not the place to enumerate all the labours of a scientific life, 

 which was alike active, devoted, and restless. M. Arago 

 had a decided genius for invention. He opened new roads. 

 His discoveries on polarization, the relations of magnetism 

 and electricity, and his magnetism of rotation, are of a high 

 order, and have laid open to our view unknown results ; 

 nor was he less able or less fortunate in other kinds of 

 discoveries. M. Arago often wandered out of his own pro- 

 per sphere. He strove hard to raise the standard of the 

 body that he belonged to. He was ever in search of ta- 

 lented young men to enlist for the Academy, to add to its 

 reputation. All his scientific contemporaries were attached 

 to him by the ties of the deepest gratitude. In the year 

 1830, M. Arago was called upon to replace M. Fourier as 

 perpetual secretary. Since the time that he appeared at his 

 post, the Academy seemed to become possessed of a more 

 active life ; by familiarity, which was full of charm in a 

 superior man like him, he knew how to secure confidence 

 and lively attachments. This gift, this great art of success, 

 he devoted entirely to the success of that body whose organ 

 he had become. Never did the activity of the Academy ap- 

 pear so powerful or so extensive. Science seemed to throw 

 an unusual splendour, and to spread widely its brilliant light 

 on all the productive powers of our country. Arago was 

 gifted with a matchless penetration of mind, along with ex- 

 traordinary analytical powers. The exposition of the works 

 of others was to him a mere child's play. In his functions 

 of secretary his thoughts were easy and rapid, with a turn for 

 intellectual wit ; and his powerful expressions invariably 



